Donald Trump Damaging Global War on Terror

The Global War on Terror continues to financially bleed Pakistan as the country had to spend $123.13 billion, equivalent to Rs.10.373 trillion, in direct and indirect cost due to incidents of terrorism in last 16 years. In this war against terrorism, scarified over 70,000 peoples including 6000 soldiers, innocent school kids, students and women.

By Zaheerul Hassan

US President Donald Trump made a tweet revealing that the United States had foolishly given Pakistan over $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years. In his tweet, Trump accused Pakistan of thinking US leaders to be fools. “They give safe havens to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!”.

Unfortunately, before tweeting, American leadership headed by fool Trump has forgotten that since 9/11, Pakistan has suffered colossal losses to the lives and economy. During Global War on terror (GWOT), according to Economic Survey of Pakistan 2016-17, The war against terrorism continues to financially bleed Pakistan as the country had to spend $123.13 billion, equivalent to Rs.10.373 trillion, in direct and indirect cost due to incidents of terrorism in last 16 years. In this war against terrorism, scarified over 70,000 peoples including 6000 soldiers, innocent school kids, students and women. Moreover, Pakistan is also looking after over three million Afghan refugees since 1979. But instead of appreciating, Trump started yelling owl foul against Islamabad.

Pakistan being a responsible major actor of GWOT has provided air bases, shortest logistic routes to maintain US led NATO forces, intelligence sharing and hitting renowned Al-Qaida’s’ culprits. In this regards, political and military brass openly supported operations against terrorists. On contrary to it facing CIA, RAW and NDS sponsored militancy in Balochistan and FATA.

Trump gone so mad and delivered such a nonsense statement which is not only against the diplomatic norms but also speaks his lack of knowledge about the usage of Coalition Support Fund released, in lieu of services provided to Pakistan by predecessor US governments. US has also leveled baseless allegations against Pakistan for failing in guarding religious independence.

Reasons of fruitless Trump endeavor of pushing Pakistan against the wall could be to please local Jews, since Pakistan voiced against US acknowledging of Jerusalem as Israeli capital, making strong India against China, creating insecurity and instability in South Asia, keeping Russia, CARS and China away from Gwadar.

Firstly, Pakistan was one of the country that supported and presented resolution against recent US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017. The US president’s move was condemned by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and declared it as “unjustified and irresponsible”. In response, Donald Trump has threatened to withhold “billions” of dollars of US aid from countries which vote in favour of a United Nations resolution by rejecting the US president’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

In this context, Indian origin US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, warned members states those voted against US acknowledgment of Jerusalem as capital. Therefore, Trump’ black mailing with regard to Coalition Support Fund, linking it with actions against terrorists, threatening Pakistan and creating instability in Saudi Arabia as result of Resolution on “Jerusalem Capital Issue”, is by design and very much part of US agenda against leading Islamic countries. Interesting, US warning aimed largely at UN members in Africa, Asia and Latin America who are regarded as more vulnerable to US pressure. For example, Egypt as like Pakistan is also vulnerable, due to receipt of $1.2bn in US aid last year. Thus, Jewish lobby present in US forcing Trump to keep on

Secondly, Indian factor cannot be ruled out due to the presence of Nikki Halely in Trump’s advisors’ list. Nikki, though American advisor to President Trump but preferred of guarding Indian interests over US. She always advocated the Indian regional supremacy and recommend leading India role to contain china and create unrest in America.

Thirdly, outcome of Indo-US nexus is aiming to keep the cancer of insecurity and instability intact in South Asian region, so that Russia, Afghanistan, China, Central Asian Republics (CARS) and Pakistan should not be able to enjoy the bilateral trade through CPEC fruits. Moreover, appointing India as regional dogwatch and making her strong enough against China and Pakistan is another reason of trump revised policy.

Fourthly, the most important reason of Trump’s annoyance with Pakistan is due to emergent of likely new South Asian Block comprising of Afghanistan, Russia, China, Pakistan and CARS. US knows future of this region lies in completion of project CPEC that will definitely change the regional geopolitical dynamic. Therefore, CIA, RAW, Mossad and MI-6 are supporting insurgency in Balochistan with a view to stop or create hindrance in the completion of regional game changer project , CPEC”.

Anyhow, complete Pakistani nation along with political and military leadership condemned Trump statement and declared it as an organized propaganda and pleasing India against Pakistan. Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, in a reply to the US president’s tweet clearly stated that Trump speaking Moody’s language and Pakistan will let the world know the truth and will be responding to Trump’s tweet. He added that there is a difference between facts and fiction.

In this regards, the Foreign Office (FO) on same evening summoned United States ambassador David Hale over US President Donald Trump’s statement against Pakistan.

Topmost leadership headed by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, opposing political leadership and Chief of Army staff has summoned a meeting of the National Security Committee. Both the leaders are determined in safeguarding Pakistanis’ interests. At this occasions, General Qamar Javed Bajwa clear expressed that the country’s interests will be guarded on all cost. Pakistan Foreign Office should take steps in the refinement of Foreign policy and getting rid of “help business”.